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Italy - Classic - Self-Guided Leisure Cycling Holiday

Turkode Destinasjoner Turen starter 42541 Italia Pisa

Turen destinasjon Reisen er levert av 7 dager Fra : NOK 0 Oversikt

A fantastic cycling holiday in that really showcases the beautiful Tuscan countryside. Rural Tuscany is synonymous with undulating green hills capped by medieval, tile-roofed towns, punctuated by cypresses, churches and stone farmhouses, delicious wine and authentic Italian food.

Reiserute

Day 1: Arrival into Pisa Airport - Transfer to Day 2: San Gimignano to Casole d' Day 3: Casole d'Elsa to Abbadia Isola Day 4: Abbadia Isola to Radda in Day 5: to Siena Day 6: Exploring the Colline Senesi Day 7: Departure from Siena - Transfer to Pisa Airport

Rolling green countryside will be the backdrop for most of your Tuscany cyling holiday and you'll have the chance to explore the Chianti region and the Crete Senesi which are among the most classic and beautiful areas in the whole of Tuscany.

As you journey on this cycling holiday in Tuscany you'll take in its natural beauty, and experience varied riding taking you through dense forests and alongside rivers and the legendary routes from San Gimignano, to and on to Siena.

After arriving in Pisa we'll transfer you through Tuscan landscape, arriving at your first accommodation near San Gimignano, one of the many historical towns you'll be visiting throughout the week. The subsequent days will see you following quiet roads, riding past picturesque farmhouses nestled amidst olive groves, vineyards and forests on your way to the medieval towns of Abbadia Isola, Monteriggioni, Radda in Chianti and Siena. With towns oozing the Italian Renaissance atmosphere, scattered with great restaurants, superb gelaterias and the excellent wines of Chianti and , there's no better way to explore Tuscany than by bike!

Day 1: Arrival into Pisa Airport - Transfer to San Gimignano (D) Arrival into Pisa airport and transfer to San Gimignano (transfer approx. 1.5 hours). On arrival at your first accommodation, your local representative will fit you to your hire bikes (if hiring) and conduct your welcome meeting. Now is the perfect time to ask any questions you may have about the week ahead.

Day 2: San Gimignano to Casole d'Elsa (B, D) Today is a gentle start to your cycling holiday, to give you some time to explore San Gimignano. Leaving your accommodation in the morning, you’ll first ride into the town.

This fascinating town of towers is one of the prettiest and best-preserved medieval settlements in the whole of Italy. San Gimignano is also known for its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, which is grown in the area. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We recommend taking a walk through its narrow streets – a great opportunity to absorb the Tuscan atmosphere. Back on the bikes you will descend towards the plains of Colle Val d‘Elsa. You’ll ride past woodland and cultivated fields making your way towards the hill-top town of Casole d‘Elsa. The last few kilometres are challenging but the views from the top of the hill will certainly outweigh the effort. You’ll have some time to wander through this authentic medieval town, far away from the tourists and clichés of Tuscany. The accommodation is set just outside the walled centre, a short walk into town and you have a few trattoria to choose from. We recommend watching the sunset from the bastions overlooking the hills of Tuscany.

Today we include a dinner, however as the hotel’s restaurant is closed on a Monday if your stay falls on this day, we will organise your dinner to be on an alternative day. There are a number of restaurants to choose from in Casole d‘Elsa.

Approx. distance: 18 Miles / 29 Kms

Day 3: Casole d'Elsa to Abbadia Isola (B) You’ll leave Casole d‘Elsa on a rolling road passing small stone villages scattered throughout the countryside. Sections of the route are part of the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome. This ancient road will lead you straight to your accommodation, in an ancient medieval village, surrounded by vast vineyards; an ideal place to taste the local wines. A short cycle away from your accommodation you’ll find Abbadia Isola. The fields surrounding Abbadia Isola were once a large swamp or bog that accumulated rain water from Monte Maggio.

Approx. distance: 20 Miles / 32 Kms

Day 4: Abbadia Isola to Radda in Chianti (B) Today is the toughest stage of the week, with a roller coaster ride through the northwestern side of Siena and into the Chianti region. Don’t worry though, each new climb will be rewarded with a fantastic descent!

The first climb takes you to the Castle of Monteriggioni with its 13th-century architecture. The massive walls here are linked with Dante’s Divine Comedy and, at that time, served as a defensive stronghold of the town of Siena against rival . A gentle stroll through the narrow streets is a must, as well as a cycle round the fortified walls. Back on the bikes, you’ll head towards . You will soon realise you are cycling in wine territory as you pass acre after acre of vineyards. Castellina in Chianti is well worth exploring on foot; its importance is not only connected to wine, but also to the abundance of Etruscan sites found in this region.

Such rich archeological heritage justifies a visit to the territorial museum for Chianti Senese, its collection including findings not only from the township of Castellina in Chianti, but from , and Radda in Chianti as well. Leaving Castellina, another 11 Kms will take you to Radda in Chianti, a beautiful medieval town enclosed in large defensive walls.

Approx. distance: 19 Miles / 31 Kms

Day 5: Radda in Chianti to Siena (B) Today’s route will be a gentle roller coaster through the Chianti region of oak forests and vineyards. The day will start with a gentle descent towards Gaiole in Chianti, where you can take a slight detour to visit the town.

Moving south again, the landscape will change from oak forests to cultivated fields as you make your way towards Siena. This whole region is dotted with castles, once defensive systems but now privately owned by wine producers. Your route will then take you past Meleto, San Donato in Perano and Brolio Castle. You’ll follow a mixture of tarmac and “” (gravel roads) as you get closer to Siena, with glimpses of bell towers and churches.

Entering Siena from the Porta Romana will lead you straight to the heart of the city, Piazza del Campo, where the famous Palio takes place. There will be time to wander through Siena in the late afternoon, with a visit to the Palio Square and the Duomo, before heading out to dinner for a mouthwatering Tuscan meal.

Approx. distance: 27 Miles / 43 Kms

Day 6: Exploring the Colline Senesi (B) Last chance to explore this stunning region as you head off on your bikes to explore the famous “Colline Senesi”. The colline is what we associate Tuscany with; rolling green hills, lined with Cypress trees with a villa on the hill top. Formed mainly of a chalky terrain, the riding today will be an exploratory route to and on to where you can take the train back to Siena. This is your last evening in Tuscany, and what better way than to sit in Piazza Campo for a pre-dinner drink?

Approx. distance: 30 Miles / 49 Kms

Day 7: Departure from Siena - Transfer to Pisa Airport (B) Today you’ll say ciao to this beautiful part of Italy and we’ll transfer you back to Pisa airport for your outgoing flight. (Transfer approx. 2 hours.)

Viktig Informasjon What's Included:

Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms) in small hotels / agriturismi / guesthouses Meals as per the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) English-speaking local representative (with welcome meeting) Detailed route notes and maps Luggage transfers Airport transfer on scheduled arrival day from Pisa airport (PSA) Airport transfer on scheduled departure day to Pisa airport (PSA)

What's Not Included:

Bike hire (available if required, from GBP 200 - Electric bike from GBP 280) Flights and charges for travelling with your bike (if applicable) Single room (available if required, from GBP 185) Travel insurance Meals not stated in the itinerary Personal clothing and equipment Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route Local tourist tax (to be paid locally – Approx. 2€ per day) Train tickets from Buonconvento to Siena (Day 6) – Approx. 5€ Airport transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days Hotel upgrade from GBP 220 - Single room upgrade from GBP 265

Other useful travel information: Vaccinations: We recommend you have a dental and medical check-up before the holiday Passport: A full passport is required for visiting this destination. Baggage: Your allowable baggage is one main piece of luggage per person, other than your bike and a small day pack. Meals: Breakfast are typically Italian, you can pack up your own lunches or stop for some delicious food at a restaurant or café en route , dinner are either taken at a local restaurant or your accommodation. Travel Insurance: It is a condition of your trip that you are covered by a medical and personal accident insurance policy that includes repatriation to your home country and cover for all planned activities. Grade: 2 Gentle, On undulating or rolling terrain, occasional moderate / challenging climbs. No high altitude ascents & the odd short steep climbs. For semi-regular riders / relative novices wishing to gain experience & fitness. 40-50 miles / 60-80 kms per day & grade 3 Moderate, For riders with experience, good fitness & a decent level of skill. Some features that may be experienced more frequently in a higher grade tour. Most days include a couple of significant climbs. Some long days & some steep to very steep sections. Not for beginners. 45-60 miles / 70-95 kms per day. Airport transfers: are included in the cost of your holiday. For this tour we ask that you fly into and back from Pisa airport (PSA). Please arrive between 09.00 and 16.00 and depart between 12.00 and 19.00. Please note – If you make travel arrangements that fall outside of the above time windows there may be an additional charge for your transfers. Terrain: Tuscany is a region with rolling hills of cultivated fields, woodland and chalky landscape, dotted with hill-top hamlets. Riding is mostly on quiet tarmac roads (95% – shared with traffic, can be busier in the summer months) and some well-beaten gravel roads (5% – mostly strade bianche), with days involving riding up to hill-top towns. You will find certain sections have some steeper more challenging climbs. Day 6, riding Colline Senesi, will prove the most challenging following a roller coaster route. We recommend hybrid bikes for this tour, but it’s possible to cycle the route on a road bike, bearing in mind that there are some short gravel sections. Bike Hire: If you don’t own a suitable bike or would prefer to avoid bringing your own we have bikes available to hire. These bikes are typically Scott Sportster or Univega Geo hybrid bikes (or equivalent). We have electric bikes available to hire on request; these will typically be Univega Summit E-bikes (or equivalent). It may take us a day or so to confirm availability so please let us know as soon as possible if you’d like to take this option. Hire bikes will be provided with a pannier rack and 1 bag, a puncture repair kit, spare inner tubes (2), a bike lock, a bike pump, a KM counter, a water bottle holder and a map holder. We can provide a helmet locally on request, please let us know if you’d like to hire when you make your booking. It is possible to bring your own saddle and / or pedals, but please let us know in advance. Vehicle Support: There is no vehicle support on this tour, however your luggage will be transferred between your accommodation. We do provide a 24-hour emergency contact number for you to call if you encounter any problems during the trip. Please note that this may incur additional charges depending on the nature of the action required. Daily departures: available between 01/04/2019 and 31/10/2019. Priser / Datoer

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